Current Research Projects In HAL

Hand grip test

Rehabilitation Gaming

Associate Professor Lynne Gauthier's research focus is rehabilitation gaming.

  • Predict how much and how quickly upper extremity function can recover through playing a rehabilitation video game.
  • Develop technologies to personalize rehabilitation for each person.
  • Understand the brain mechanisms underlying upper extremity recovery.
  • Address barriers to adhering to a rehabilitation program.

Optimization of Human Performance

Assistant Professor David J. Cornell's community-based research focuses on optimizing human performance across various populations.
  • Study elite athletes (e.g., professional athletes, collegiate student-athletes, etc.); tactical athletes (e.g., firefighters, police officers, etc.); and occupational laborers (e.g., public works employees, etc.). 
  • Leverage both laboratory and applied/clinical techniques to facilitate the investigation of musculoskeletal injury prevention programming, the non-invasive assessment of autonomic nervous system and electro-mechanical muscle function, and the enhancement of human health, fitness, and performance.

Understand Dietary Quality of Cambodians 45 to 64 Years Old

Funded by the Greater Lowell Health Alliance, project researchers include Asst. Prof. Sabrina Noel and Boce Zhang of the Department of Biomedical and Nutritional Sciences, Co-Director Robin Toof of the Center for Community Research and Engagement, Research Professor David Turcotte of the Economics Department and Asst. Prof. Sherman Bigornia of the University of New Hampshire.

  • Characterize the dietary patterns of Cambodian adults living in the Greater Lowell area.
  • Identify existing community-level resources and gaps in the food environment. 

Assess Dietary Quality of Cambodians ages 18 to 40 years old

Researchers include Asst. Prof. Sabrina Noel of the Department of Biomedical and Nutritional Sciences, Assoc. Prof. Ivy Ho of the Department of Psychology and UNH Asst. Prof. Sherman Bigornia. 
  • Characterize the overall dietary quality of first and second generation Cambodian adults ages 18 to 40 years old living in the Greater Lowell Area. 
  • Examine the nature of the relationship of Khmer and U.S, acculturation with dietary quality. 
  • Study the knowledge, attitudes, and beliefs regarding dietary quality, access to healthy, culturally-relevant foods.

Faculty Use HAL for Teaching Students

HAL is used by faculty to teach Interprofessional Education (IPE), an initiative recommended by the World Health Organization to improve patient care. Students from various disciplines work in teams to conduct research and counsel patients.
  • Metabolic Monitoring Equipment - Assistant Teaching Professor Kyle Coffey uses the metabolic monitoring equipment with students in his Exercise Physiology courses to learn hands-on, practical skills that are used by today's industry leaders. Students also have the chance to assist faculty with physiological testing of the University's athletes.
  • Nutrition Assessment Tools - The MPH in Dietetics' Course "Nutrition Assessment," led by Assistant Professor Kelsey Mangano, provides hands on laboratory experience using validated and reliable nutrition assessment tools to assess health.
  • Counseling - Visiting Professor Mary Kate Keyes is using the HAL to align the skills of our students with the needs of the University. Graduate students in the MPH Coordinated Program are, as part of their coursework in Advanced Clinical Nutrition, counseling the sophomore cadets of the ROTC Air Force program.